WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) to help address the prescription opioid and heroin abuse epidemic in America. The Co-prescribing Saves Lives Act encourages physicians to co-prescribe the life-saving drug Naloxone alongside opioid prescriptions and make naloxone more widely available in federal health settings. The bill can now head to the Senate floor for a vote.

“We must act swiftly in order to save lives and stem the growing drug epidemic in America. The Co-prescribing Saves Lives Act is an important step toward preventing overdose deaths, and I am pleased this important legislation will advance to the Senate floor for a vote. I will continue working with Senator Kaine and my colleagues in the Senate to fight the devastating drug crisis,” said Senator Capito.

“I’m very pleased that Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray have helped take this commonsense and practical bill one step closer to final Senate passage,” Senator Kaine said. “Senator Capito and I have seen first-hand in Virginia and West Virginia how significant of a challenge the opioid abuse epidemic is for communities. Our hope is that this bill can move swiftly to the floor for full Senate consideration soon so we can help save lives.”

On Tuesday, Senator Capito will travel to southern West Virginia where she will join Bluefield Mayor Tom Cole and the Bluefield Rescue Squad to learn firsthand how to administer the life-saving drug, Naloxone.

The Co-prescribing Saves Lives Act, as amended, would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish physician co-prescribing best practices for federal health settings, including VA hospitals, DOD hospitals, Indian health service facilities and Federally-Qualified Health Centers.

Nationwide, heroin and opioids account for approximately 25,000 American deaths per year. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, reversed more than 26,000 overdose cases between 1996 and 2014.
 

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